Here's why the last 10 days of Ramadan are the hardest for people who fast

Ramadan, meaning 'the hot month' in Arabic, is proving itself very true especially for those who are fasting during daytime in various GCC countries including Qatar.

One Jordanian expatriate—who chose not to be named—states that "The last 10 days of the Islamic Holy Month need more focus as it's also getting hotter in the Middle East as days pass."

Well, we can't blame him. The temperature on an average day in Doha usually ranges from 45 Degree Celsius to 50 and for locals, that's pretty normal. Especially during the peak months of May to August.

If the extreme heat is not yet enough, another factor which makes it really tough for Muslims to survive the last few days of Ramadan is their anticipation for the festive Eid celebrations. Zaki Armen, an Indonesian expatriate who's been a resident of Qatar since childhood, says: "Well, I think it's hard and exciting at the same time as everyone's hyped for Eid. There'll be more food to chew and the timings will finally be back to normal. It's a big relief!"

(Source: Reuters)

With only 10 days left to go for Ramadan this year, Muslims from all over the globe who observe the fast are most likely to be found inside the mosque praying all day—a practice called 'I’tikaf.' For some, the fasting experience is a little too engaging that it will be a lot of effort for them to detach from the sacrifice once Eid arrives. But for the majority, the final stretch is psychologically and physically the hardest.

To get a more in-depth idea of how strenuous it is to eat and drink nothing the whole day, we spoke to a cross-section of Muslim expatriates in Qatar who's been fasting since the first day of Ramadan.

Keep on scrolling down to see how they're coping up!

(Source: AP)

It's not really hard for me. I'll describe fasting during the last few days of Ramadan as important and blessed. Hard maybe because considering the importance of the last 10 days, Muslims increase their worship day and night by adding more prayers and reciting Quran and other acts of kindness. Some people I know even spend the whole last 10 days in mosques isolating themselves from the worldly matters and only focusing on worship. Also during the last 10 days, Muslims seek the so-called 'Night of Power' among the odd nights. The belief is that this is the night of blessings and the mercy of God are abundant, and the sins are forgiven if asked for. Also, all prayers uttered on this night will be accepted.

The last few days of Ramadan is the hardest because it is the most significant. As Muslims are seeking for 'Laylatul Qadr' or the 'Night of Power,' more worship, good deeds, and dua have to be done. This brings more rewards from Allah. The relief that will follow after performing all these deeds is beyond fulfilling, and I can't wait to experience it again this year.

It's hard because most Muslims will miss the joyous feeling of celebrating Ramadan and they have to wait for another year. As for me, I don't find the last 10 days that tough as I'm always excited for Eid and have numerous of plans for it. It has been written in the Quran itself that the Holy Month of Ramadan is worth more than a 1000 months because the doors of hell are closed, and all the demons are locked up and the doors of heaven are open.

Yes, the last few days of Ramadan are indeed the hardest but in a good way as we Muslims exert extra effort upon redeeming ourselves in every remaining Ramadan days. We also evaluate ourselves on what we have learned during the month-long reflection and maintain good habits which we have acquired. This enables us to strengthen our Imaan (faith) and get closer to Allah.

It's generally hard if you're not getting enough sleep, and regularly working at the same time. During the last 10 days, a Muslim spends more time in prayer during the night, so it can be difficult to get 8 hours of sleep—which makes it difficult to function during the day.

A few last-minute tips in order to survive the remaining days of fasting is to eat, not feast—during both Iftar and Suhoor, keep hydrated—but sip, don't chug!, conduct a quick and low-intensity workout before every meal, eat the right food, and most importantly, remember the reason why you started to fast in the first place!

When done right, fasting for the whole month of Ramadan will just be a piece of cake and you'll surely feel rewarded and fulfilled towards the end.

How's your fasting going now that we're off to the final days of Ramadan? Are you sharing the same sentiments as the respondents on this article? If yes, drop us a line in the comment section below and also, don't forget to like and share this article—it keeps us going!